Thread control system for weft replenishing looms



July 25, 1944. R.-G. TURNER 2,354,624

THREAD CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledMarch 8, 1945 July 25, 1944. `R. G. Tum-:R l2,354,624

THREAD CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed March 8, 1943 2sheetssheet ,2y

- en?? l l /lcHARo G. TURNER Patented July 25., 1944 UNITED STATESPATENT' omc THREAD CONTROL SYSTEM FORA WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS RichardG. Turner, Worcester, Mass., assigner to Crompton '& Knowles Loom Works,Worcester, l`tlas's.,a`oorporation of Massachusetts u Application March8, 1943,- Serialy No. 478,329

(Cll 139;-256) Y 18 Claims.

This invention relateslto systems forthe control of weftthreads in agroup of weft replenis'hing llooms and it isv the general object ofthei-nve'ntion to provide a common pneumatic reservoir connected to thethreadremovers .ofthe several looms the group. f Y Her-etof'ore I haveproposedlapneumatic'thread 'removing systeni for weft replenishing Ilooms wherein an air pum-properatingat sub-atmosplieri'c pressuresislutilized to remove. the threads of' theV outgoing. and`Aincomin'gbobbinsrwhich re'- main in thepath-ofi-theshuttle incident to aweft replenishi-ng operation of the loom. The pump is operated byfthelay to ereate'l a-'p'artial vacuum as the lay movesl from frontv t-obackcenter, and the pump pistonn'iovesmost rapidly. at top center,

`but this is the point vinthe loomcycle at which 4shuttlepicking-occurs. As a' result-of -thi's timing Vthe pump places a peakload-demand on the loom vat the instant when-considerable power isr'equiredto drve the shuttle.v

It is an important object of my present iriv'ntion to connect'ra-common'rese'rv'oir -to a-g-roup oipumps, one for each' loom, andoperate-'the pumpsby the loom lays as'the lattern'fiovey from back tofront center,thereby placingtlfie demand for maximum power so far as'the pump is-concerned at some time in the loom cycley other than theV`time at which' picking occurs.- The-s`ub atmospheric pressuresthuscreated within the reservoir are used to operateeach pneumaticthread control' system during' the "backward stroke of the associatedlayata time when the pump -hasanidlestrok'e and require very littlepower from the looms.

In order to -preventunnecessary loss of pressure from the reservoirduringtha'tpart of the loom cycle when sub-atmospheric pressures are notneeded, that isg-when the layV ismoving for- `wardly, itis a furtherobject-of my presentinven- -tion to provide 'a'valve between the` commonreservoir and each thread system which will close the latter as itscorresponding lay'advances, butwill openf the system as thev la'yrecedes.

It is Vafurther object of my present invention to provide a commonreservoir lconstructed of units,rone for eachloom in a group', wherein-ea'ch unit is provided with means for connection with the-correspondingthread control system and also to the associated pump.'Thereservoir'thus made can be enlarged'to accommodatea'varying numberoflooms in-lthe groupwh-ich `it' serves? Inathe modified form of'the'invention the common .reservoir may `besuprilied withsub-atmosphericipressures by meansof alp'umpdrven inde'- atmosphericpressures within" thereservoir when-- pendently of the Vlooms and actingrtol create sub# ever any of' the looms inthe? group are running. Inthis modcation the' unit"s`-o the. reservoir will omit the connectionsfor individual pumps as already mentioned; loutl will-y have connectionswith their corresponding thread'fcorrtr'o'l systems.

Withthese and other objects=.in,vw whicli'will appear as the descriptionproceeds;V my :invention residesv in the combination-andarrangement oflparts hereinafter described; andvset forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein arcoir- Venient embodiment ofmyinvention is-set'iorth,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic"plariivw of-agfroip of four looms showing fthemaiine'r in which the preferred form of my invention operates withrespect to the group; A

Fig42 is a sideelevation ofone of the *looms andi Vitspump; showing`connections-fromithe latiter to the common reservoir,

Fig. 3 isy a diagrammatic frontk elevation `of the thread control'system of' efa'chdoor'n,`

Fig. 4 is afdetails'ide elevation,1part`ly'in sec tion, setting forththe valve mechanism foi'icl'os ing the thread control system ofv4theass'ciated loom during'that part' ofitsoyc'le corresponding tomovement of' its layfrom backto fron'ticentr,

Fig. 5 isa view similar" to' Fig.;4-" but showing the valve 'mechanism-in open yposition,V

Fig. 6 is a vertical section Online 6&6, FigaA",

Fig.- 7 is adetailed plan View fo'the" common reservoir showing the unitconstructiohthereof,

Fig. 8 is a-detail vertical longitudinal vse' ':tior' through one of thepumps, and f Fig.. 9 is a diagrammatic'viewof a modified forni of thevinvention which utilizesla pump driven independently ofthe loom's.v

Referring to Fig. 2,I which'showsafloomhaving 'a-pump used in thepreferred form of the'inven'# a" lay L driven by acrank sha-ft Ilattached thereto by connectors-'Hi A pumpP secured'E to the frame isprovided with a pistonf5' the'frod I6 of which is connected to theuppeend-oi."y a lever H pivoted asatl I8to` the Yloom fi'arneJ A connectorIB 'extending between theflay' andthe lower party of lever 'l1oause'sbackward movement of `the piston l 5' as the'iaylfmoves1`forwardly rfifojr' back to' front cent'erp'osition, hence" afplrtialvacuum is' created-'f inthe pump'v .15Y 'toi tiieift-'q'f thepis'toa asviewe'di Fig- 2 land'flaf tuben communicates withltheiiiterir-of thefrojrii-o'fV theV pstonga'nd anIn escape? valve nfiit's-a-v bypass for'the air' iri fronti o'fthe 1the pathofthe shuttle; Y

aExcept as indicated hereinafterthematter selvage S of the cloth beingwoven and the shuttle" box B of the lay. A tube 29 leads from thecan..`26 to mouth 28. A thread W' extends from the i selvage into the shuttlebox when the shuttle is at the magazine end of the loom. 1

The threads W should be kepttautand above; i

the path of the lay and whenever one of theal* bobbins R is transferredinto theibox B its weft i end W Will move downwardly and be held by,I v

pneumatic attraction in the holder during the pickiimmediately'followingreplenishment,

thereby -assistlngfthreading of the shuttle. At somezsubsequent pick thethread of the freshly replenished shuttle will be fout at the selvage S2in Well-knownmanner and will be drawn through ythe vtube-25 into' thecan 26. Onther replenish- Aing-beat the threadxextractor E draws that'part of ythread W' .extendinglfrom the shuttle boxV to .the rextractor.into the latter, 'and'whenthis Ythread is laterk cut-atthe selvage thewhole of the thread moves :through the lextractorland -alongf avvpipe-29 to 'the can`2i.` ,Both .of these threads arethus removedpneumatically from thus far describedisfof usual construction and may bemade as set forthin my `prior Patents Nos. 2,199,353; 2,199,296 and2,162,290.l The partial .vacuum within thecan 426 serves to hold theweft ends W in proper position and .both the,

thread holder: and theextractor operate to -remove theirrespective-threads so that the latter -will not.-'be whipped intoy the warp shedby the shuttle..- Y'

, .In Ythediagram shown in. Fig. 1 I have shown ,Y

four. looms LI, L2,.-L3,and` L4. These looms are vallasubstantially thesame as the loom shown in Figs.. v2 and3 and each will have a layoperated pump, agbobbin-magazine, a thread holder, and a thread.extractor'. Located at some point con- ;venienttothe looms is a:pneumatic reservoir ,formed ofunits 35', 352, 35?. and 354 for the loomsLl', L2, L3 and L4, respectively, and each unit will be connected toitscorresponding` pump by th'e'previously described tube 20. -operateftheyact by their pumps to create reduced pressures within the reservoir 35.

,l .v In order that the thread removing mechanisms Off :each-loom may beconnected to the reservoir .35.each can 26 is connected by a tube 40 toits correspondingunit of the reservoir 35. Thus, the `can 26a-of'loom-L' is connected by its tube yim to unit 35', the can of loom L2 isconnected by .its tubelll to unit 352, etc.

f Eachlayonits forward stroke Will cause the associated pump to ldrawair from the reservoir ,3 5 and-suficiently 'low pressures will bemaintained-within the reservoir so that all of. the cans 26 Vand theircorresponding threadl holders 25 vand thread extractors E will operatesatisfactorily to remove the threads already described.V It is ,a matterAof vcommon experience that Yeven though agroup o f looms are intendedto run at exactly the same speed, there is nevertheless As the looms thefact that the weaver in starting the looms up one at a time starts eachloom Without regard to the position of the lay of the other, leads toasynchronism in the motions of the lays. As a result, air will be drawnfrom the reservoir at all times by at least one pump so that apractically continuous partial vacuum always exists withinthejreservoinj IEven if all the lays should temporarly be 'movingforwardly at'the same time,

v this condition would not last very long, since the "f looms would soonget out of step with each other.

The ,Cans 2.6 will therefore be under substantially continuousconditions of partial vacuum and the thread holders and threadextractors will operate fasdescribed.`

'Anotherfe'ature "of my invention relates to the sawing of thesub-atmospheric pressures Within Nthe:reservoirf35 by preventing lossduring that part of the cycle of each loom when the correspondingthreadholder and extractor need not operate.. Y This featureneed not be usedbut when employed Twill permit the use of Ycomparatively small' pumps...Accordingly, I provide each loom with avalve in its tube 40 so that thecorresponding can26 will be momentarily and periodically disconnectedfrom the reservoir 35 when 'theassociated lay is moving fromback tofront centen The mechanism for accomplishing this -result :is shown .inFigs. 2, 4, and 6, and includes acam 5U secured in correct angularposition on ,thetop` or crank shaft Il. This cam cooperates Awith aplunger 52 the stem of which issurrounded by a compression spring 53effective .to urge the plunger toward the cam at all times. The stem isconnected to a vane or valve 55 slidable -vertically in a fitting 56secured as at 51 to some part ofthe loom frame I0. The fitting isprovided with tubular ends 58 located in tube A(lll when this feature isused. The cam is set `on its shaft in sucha position as to open thevalve as shown in Fig. 5 when the lay is moving fromv front to backcenter and close the valve as shown .in Figs. fl and 6 when the lay ismoving from back to front centen Each valve isclosed in .correcttimedrelation with respect to its loom and without regard to the positions ofthe other Valveszinthegroup. v .Y Y

Ther common reservoir 35 may be constructed as shown in Fig-7. Each unitcomprises .a pipe 6 6 and the endvpipes areclosed by the vcaps 6I..Threaded fittings 62 and 63 are tapped into each `pipe l6 0 and areconnected, respectively, to the .tubeS 2 0 `and 4 0. Adjoining pipes areconnected byfa coupling 65. It will be apparentfrom Fig. 7 that I haveprovided a pipe 60 for each loom in .the system, and thatif more thanfour looms are used onecap 6l can be removed and other units added, onefor each additional loom.

In operation, the looms in the group will all .run according to theirowntime without regard .to each othe r,;and as each loom moves from backto frontIl centerits lever I1 will be rocked in a direction to, create apartial vacuum `in front of its piston I5, thereby also creating apartial vacv uum inthe reservoir 35. During this forward movement of thelay the valve in the correspondingtube 40, if used, will be closed. Onthe backward stroke ofthe lay when the pump is not creatingvacuum, thevalve 55 will be open and the-interior of reservoir 35 will be connectedVtothe can 26.v The thread holder and thread extractor ofthe loom willtherefore operate on the backward stroke of the lay in a manner:similarto that set forth in the, previously some variatiodand thiscondition, taken with mentioned'vpal'er1ts- .'It is to be understoodthat the conditions just described Lexist for each loom.

In the modified form oftheinvention I use .a single air pump connecteddirectly to the reservoir and driven by `its -own source of `powerindependently ofthe looms. Thus, as shownvin Fig. 9, a vacuum pumpconnected to a motor 16 controlled in any approved mannerby the weaveris connected by a tube 'll to a reservoir R which is similar to thereservoir 35 already described except for a cap 18 at one endthereofwhich lis provided with an inlet 19 for connection with the tube 11. Thereservoir units 8 0, onevfor'each loom, will have a single inlet 8l forattachment to the tubes 40 and the tube 20 will be omitted as well asits connection with the reservoir R. 'The pump 15 runs continuouslythroughout loom operation to create sub-atmospheric pressures Within thereservoir R' and the latter,` acting through'the tubes 40, will inducemovement of -afcolumn of air into each Vof the thread controllers forpurposes similar to those already described. Where the capacity of thepump 15 is sufficiently high it will not be necessary to use the valvelshown in Figs. 4 and 5, but thesevalves can be used if desired for thepurpose of permitting the use of a lower capacity vacuum pump. Y 1

-From the foregoing it will be seen thatI have provided a commonreservoir for operating the thread control systems of a group of loomseach provided with an air pump which is .operated by forward motion ofthe associatedlay. It will also be seen that each loom .may be providedwith a valve 55 which disconnects its pneumatic system from thereservoir while the corresponding lay is rmoving from back to front.center and while the associated pump is operating to create a partialvacuum withinthe reservoir. It will also be noted that the. reservoir isbuilt rup -of a series of units and can be extended to accommodateadditional looms. Furthermore;V the reservoir .need not be `fed byindividual pumps, oneffor -each loom, but can be connected to a-single,pump operating independently of the looms.

Having thus described Vmy invention it` will b seen that changes andmodifications may lbe made therein by those skilled in the `art Without`departing from the spirit and scope of thelinvention and I do not wishto be limited to theldetails herein disclosed, but whatIclaim is:

V1. In .a thread control system` for agroupof weft replenishing loomsoperating at different speeds and each loom having a pneumatic threadremover to remove athread by suction on the backward stroke of thereciprocatinglay of the loom subsequent to a replenishingoperation, saidsystem comprising a reservoir common tov the group of looms, meansl foreach loom pneumatically connected to the common reservoir and operatedby the corresponding lay when the latter moves forwardly to createsub-atmospheric pressures within the reservoir, and a pneumaticconnection from the reservo-ir to each thread remover in the group.

2. In a thread control system for a group of weft replenishing loomsoperating at different speeds and'each loom having a pneumatic threadremover to remove a thread by suction on the backward stroke of thereciprocating lay thereof subsequent to a replenishing operation, saidsystem comprising an air pump for each loom, a common reservoir for thegroup of looms'con# nected to each air pump-driving connections be-vtween each lay and the corresponding `pump lto cause the latter tocreate sub-atmospheric pr'essures within the reservoir when theiayfmovesforwardly, and pneumatic rconnectionsbetween said yreservoir and eachthread removerf. f .v

3.. In a thread control system for abgroup o weft replenishing loomshaving reciprocating lays which move asynchronously with respectfto thetimes when they reach their forwardpositions, each yloom in the grouphaving a pneumatic thread remover to remove a thread by' suction on thebackward stroke of the corresponding lay subsequent to a replenishingoperation, said system .comprising a reservoir common tothe group oflooms and pneumatically connectedato eachof said thread removers, andmeans -forgeach loom pneumatically connected to said reservoir andoperated by the corresponding layr when the latter movesforwardlytocreate sub-atmospheric pressures within said reservoir. u

4. In a thread control system for a group of weft replenishing loomshaving reciprocating lays which move asynchronously withrespect to the`timeswhen theyA reach their forward-positions, each loom in the grouphaving apneumatic thread remover to remove a threadbysuction on thebackward stroke of the corresponding lay subsequent to a replenishingoperation, said system comprising an air pump for each -loom,ljapneumatic reservoir connected pneumatically to said air pumps and commonto the looms of .the group and pneumaticallyV connected to each threadremover, and driving connections between each lay and the correspondingair pump to cause the latter to create sub-atmospheric pres,.- surewithin said reservoir when the associated lay moves forwardly. i Y5.` Ina thread control system fora groupof weft replenishinglooms each of,which Vis pro; vided with a reserve bobbin having` a. weftend extendingto a pneur'naticthread holder lto,;b'e held by the latter'when theshuttleconnected thereto is picked on the backward stroke of'the laysubsequent to a replenishing operationVthe lays reaching their forwardpositions asynchronously, said*v system ,comprising an air pump for eachloom, a pneumatic reservoir Icom.- mon to the group and connectedpneumatically'lto each air pump, driving connections between each layland the corresponding air pumptofca'use the latter tol createysubatmospheric pressure within the reservoir whenv the vlay is movingfor'.- wardly, and pneumatic connections between the reservoir and eachthread remover. 6. In a thread control system for a groupfof weftreplenishing looms, each loom having, a thread to be removed from theshuttlefpathbyfa pneumatic thread remover during backward movement ofthe lay when the shuttle is picked subsequent to a replenishingoperation of the loom, and thelays of the looms in the group mov- 'ingasynchronously with respect to they times kat which they reach theirfront center positions,

said system comprising anA air pumpfjfor each loom in the'group, apneumatic'reservoir common tothe group and connected pneumatically toeach air pump, operating connections between each lay and thecorresponding pump to cause the latter to create subfatmosphericpressures with# in the reservoir when the lay moves forwardly, andpneumatic connectionsfrom said common (reservoir to each thread removerin said group.

' '7. In a thread control system fora group of weft replenishing looms,each loomV having a threadto be removed from the shuttle pathby 1apneumatic thread remover lduring backward movement of the lay thereofsubsequent' to a replenishing` operation, andY each lom -havingvashuttlegpickingy operation while the lay thereof is moving lrearwardly,and the lays moving asynchronously with-respect tothe times at:l whichthey reach their front center positions, said system; comprising apneumatic reservoircommonto the looms of said group, means foreachloom.: pneumatically connected toA lthe reservoir andloperated by thecorresponding lay'when the 'latter vmoves forwardly tocreatesub-:atmospheric pressures/:within said reservoir, and pneumaticconnections between thev reservoir 'and each 'thread remover. i .f

8.` In afthread controlsystem for 5a group of weft replenishing looms.having reciprocating lays which move asychronously with'. respect'ftothe 'times' when they reach theirvforward positions, each loom in-thegroup having a' pneumatic thread remover toremove a thread =by suction-on-the'back'ward strokev of the 'corresponding yweit repleni'shinglooms each having a pneumatic f -thread vremover and a reciprocatinglay, said system comprising a pneumatic reservoir common'to the looms ofthe group, means .to create sub-atmospheric pressures within saidreservoir, av pneumatic connect-ion between the reservoir and eachthread remover, and means controlled by yeachploom when the associatedlay is moving forwardly'to close said pneumatic connection and openfsaidvconnection when the associated lay is vmoving rearwardly'.

' `10. In a thread control system for a group of weft replenishing loomseach having a pneumatic thread remover and a reciprocatinglay, saidsystem comprising a pneumatic reservoir common tothe looms of the group,.a pneumatic connection between vthe'rese'rvoir and each thread remover,means controlled by each loom to close the corresponding pneumaticconnection when the/associated lay is moving forwardly and open saidpneumatic connection when the associated layjisfmoving rearwardly, andan air pump for .eachjloom :in the group pneumatically connected 'togthereservoir and operated by the associated llaywhen the latter movesforwardly -to create sub-atmospheric pressures within saidreservoir.

A1I. In a rthread control system for a group of weft replenishing loomseach having a reciprocating lay and a pneumatic thread remover which isconnected to a thread extending fromva shuttle subsequent to areplenishing operation, and each loom having a shuttle picking operationwhile the lay thereof is moving rearwardly subsequent to a replenishingoperation thereof, said system comprising .a penumatic'reservoir commonto said group of looms and connected pneumatically to each threadremover in the group, an air pump foreach loom pneumatically connectedtothe reservoir, means operated by each loom when the corresponding layis moving forwardly to cause the associated pump to createsub-atmospheric pressures within said reservoir, and other meanscontrolled by'ieach loom to vdisconnect the corresponding thread removerpneumatically from the reservoir when the corresponding lay is advancingand;v connect the associated thread remover pneumatically; with -saidVreservoir when the corresponding lay` is receding. Y g

12. In a thread control system foray group of weft replenishing loomseach having a reciprocating lay `and a pneumatic thread remover which isconnected to a thread extending from a shuttle subsequent-to a.replenishing operation, and each loom having, a shuttley pickingoperation While the lay thereof is moving rearwardly subsequent to areplenishing operation thereof, said system comprising a pneumaticreservoir common to said group-of looms, an air pump foreach loomoperative whenV the corresponding lay is moving forwardly to create vsub-,atmospheric pressures within said reservoir, a pneumatic connection.between the reservoir and each thread remover, a valvev ineachof saidpneumatic connections, and meansl controlledby each loom to eiectclosing of the corresponding valve when the associated lay is movingforwardly and eiect opening of said valvev when the associated lay isrmoving rear,- wardly. v s

13. In a thread control system for a group of weft replenishing loomseach having a pneumatic thread remover, said system including`apneumatic reservoir common to said group of looms and'comprising agroup of pneumatically connected 'hollowv units, one unit for each loom,a pneumatic connection between eachunit and the thread remover of thecorresponding'loom, and an air' pump for each loom pneumaticallyconnected to the corresponding unit to create subatmospheric pressuresWithin said reservoir.

14. A pneumatic reservoir for a group of looms each having a vpneumatic.thread remover, said reservoir comprising a group of hollow units,'oneunit foreach loom of the group, means to connectY said units together toform said reservoir, and Seach unit having a pneumatic fitting for thecorresponding thread remover.

15. A pneumatic reservoir for a group of looms each having a pneumaticthread remover and an air-pump, said reservoir comprising a plurality ofpipe units, one unit for each loom, means to connect said pipe lunitstogether and cause said units to form a pneumatically closed reservoir,and each unit having a tting for the corresponding air pump and a secondtting for the corresponding thread remover.

16 A pneumatic reservoir for a group of looms each having a4 pneumaticthread remover, said reservoir comprising a'plurality of aligned pipeunits', means to connect adjacent ends of adjacent pipe units together,means to close the outer ends of the outer units, and arfitting on eachunit for the corresponding thread remover. y

`1'7."1In a thread control system fora group of weft replenishing loomseach having a pneumatic thread remover with a thread receiving mouth, apneumatic reservoir common tothe looms of the group and comprisingaseries of connected unitsone unitffory each loom, a pneumaticconnectio'nfbetween each unit and the corresponding thread remover, andmeans to create pneumatic pressure within said. reservoir diil'erentfrom the. atmospheric pressure at the mouths of said removers.

y 18, Ina thread control system for av group of wett replenishing loomshaving reciprocating lays whichimove `asynchronously with respect to thetween each thread remover and said reservoir, and means for each loomoperated by the latter when the lay thereof is moving forwardly to alterthe pneumatic pressure within said reservoir re1- 5 atively to theatmospheric pressure.

RICHARD TURNER.

